The Road to No-deal Brexit? Boris Johnson's "People vs Parliament" Strategy

After the overnight proroguing of parliament, could the UK be headed straight towards a no-deal Brexit? Boris Johnson's bound by law now to ask for an extension unless there's an agreement with the European Union... but the new PM's defiant, saying come what may, Britain's leaving October 31st. With MPs in recess for the next five weeks, François Picard's panel measures just how much Johnson is testing the UK's democracy.

Boris Johnson 'Will Be Forced from Power If He Defies No-deal Law'

THE OBSERVER: If PM fails to comply with anti-no deal act passed by parliament this week, he could face jail, legal experts warn

Boris Johnson would trigger a legal and constitutional crisis that would force his resignation as prime minister if he failed to obey a law mandating him to seek another extension to Brexit, according to high-level legal advice obtained by Labour.

The conclusions of a team of leading QCs, which have been sent to the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, make clear that the prime minister would be declared in contempt of court if he tried to remain in No 10 while refusing to obey legislation to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal on 31 October. The new law is expected to gain royal assent from the Queen early next week.

The legal advice, from lawyers at Matrix Chambers, says: “If the prime minister refused to comply with this order, then, while we would be in historically uncharted political territory, the legal position would remain clear – the prime minister would be in contempt of an order of the court and would be exposed to a full range of sanctions.” » | Toby Helm, Michael Savage, Andrew Rawnsleyand Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Saturday, September 7, 2019

Ken Clarke Calls Boris Johnson 'Disingenuous'

'I do think the Prime Minister has a tremendous skill in keeping a straight face whilst he's being so disingenuous' - Ken Clarke reacts to the government's defeat. Boris Johnson has been defeated again as MPs pass bill blocking no-deal.

Corbyn and Johnson Clash over No-deal Brexit: 'Anti-democratic and Unconstitutional'

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn clashed over Brexit in their first meeting in parliament since the summer recess. Johnson labelled a rebel bill designed to prevent no deal 'Jeremy Corbyn's surrender bill' and accused opposition MPs of undermining his attempts to negotiate a new deal with the European Union. Corbyn claimed Johnson was attempting to force no deal in a manner that was 'unprecedented, anti-democratic and unconstitutional'.

THE GUARDIAN: Britain is mired in democratic crisis – but it goes much deeper than Brexit » | Aditya Chakrabortty | Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Doctor Dares 'Muppet' Rees-Mogg to Report Him after No-deal Clash

THE GUARDIAN: Politician called neurologist ‘shameful’ for raising concerns about supply of medicines

The consultant neurologist who clashed with Jacob Rees-Mogg over contingency plans for a no-deal Brexit has challenged the politician to report him to the General Medical Council.

David Nicholl, who drew up a risk register of epilepsy and neurology drugs for the government’s Operation Yellowhammer plans for no deal, said he was not going to take lessons from a “muppet” who had no medical qualifications.

“If he has got doubts about my probity, I am more than happy to be referred to the GMC,” said Nicholl.

“I am not bothered about Jacob Rees-Mogg. I’m not going to take a single word of health lessons from a muppet like him. What does he know about epilepsy or neuropathic pain?” he added. » | Lisa O’Carroll, Brexit correspondent | Monday, September 2, 2019

Brexit: Government Wants to Purge Tory Rebels, Says Ex-minister Gauke

Is a No-deal Brexit Inevitable? | Inside Story

British MPs are crying foul after the Prime Minister suspended parliament just weeks before Brexit. Some members of Boris Johnson's own party have resigned, while others are calling the move "undemocratic" and a "political coup".

The suspension leaves politicians with little time to prevent the UK leaving the European Union in October without a deal. The government denies it's trying to limit debate. But with Brexit only two months away, is a no-deal exit now inevitable?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Asa Bennett - Brexit Commissioning Editor at the Telegraph; Pieter Cleppe - Head of the Brussels Office at the Open Europe think tank; Jonathan Lis - Deputy Director of British Influence

Germany Will Urge EU Allies to Hold Firm on No-deal Brexit

THE GUARDIAN: Berlin prepared for UK to crash out as leak suggests Boris Johnson’s threat has fallen flat

Germany is ready for a likely no-deal Brexit and will encourage its fellow EU member states to hold their nerve and refuse to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement, according to a leaked German government paper.

The document prepared by officials for the German finance minister, Olaf Scholz, before talks in Berlin with the chancellor of the exchequer, Sajid Javid, suggests that the UK’s threats to leave without a deal are falling flat.

Boris Johnson, who is expected to visit Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday and Angela Merkel on Wednesday, has insisted it is vital for the UK to appear ready to crash out if it is to secure a new and better deal without the Irish backstop. The new prime minister has accused those who oppose that policy of collaborating with Brussels. He will also have phone calls with the Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, and Donald Tusk, president of the European council, EU sources said. » | Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Friday, August 16, 2019

Tom Watson Urges Labour to Work with Lib Dems to Stop No-deal Brexit

THE GUARDIAN: Labour deputy leader says union with Jo Swinson only way to block no-deal Brexit

Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson has urged his party to work with the Liberal Democrats in order to stop a no-deal Brexit, as the party’s new leader Jo Swinson made clear she would work with Watson, despite having ruled out an alliance with Jeremy Corbyn.

The remarks by the two senior politicians at a round table on Wednesday are likely to spark anger from the Labour leadership. Swinson has previously ruled out working with the Labour leader, branding him a Brexiter who could not be trusted to fight for a second referendum to keep the UK in the EU. » | Jessica Elgot | Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Of Course the US Supports a No Deal – It Makes a Minnow Out of Britain

THE GUARDIAN: After Trump security adviser John Bolton’s visit it’s clear the price of US backing will be paid both in trade and foreign policy

If you thought it was bad enough when Donald Trump held a reluctant Theresa May’s hand, then look away now. For things are about to get sweatier.

The president’s clammy embrace of the British right continued this week with the arrival of his national security adviser John Bolton in London, to declare the most isolationist US regime in living memory would “enthusiastically” support a no-deal Brexit.

A weakened country, desperate for a trade deal and in no position to refuse Donald Trump’s demands not just to lower our stringent standards or hamstring our car industry but on foreign policy too? Step right this way, sir! No wonder Bolton talks of us being at the front of the queue for trade talks, a line every bit as clearly crafted to help Downing Street as President Obama’s suggestion during the 2016 referendum that Brexit would push us to the back of it. And if these presidents can’t both be right, then arguably neither can the two very different British Conservative administrations responsible for ghostwriting their respective lines. » | Gaby Hinsliff | Tuesday, August 13, 2019

The Guardian View on No-deal Brexit Plans: Parliament Must Take Back Control

THE GUARDIAN: This is a democratic emergency. MPs and other elected bodies must sit in August to stop Boris Johnson’s drive for a no-deal Brexit

To take Britain out of the European Union without a deal would be the most wilfully dangerous policy action that any government of this country has taken in modern times. No deal would materially threaten the economic security of the British people in both the short and long term, outrage millions of citizens, upend the stability and cohesion of the nation, put 20 years of peace in Northern Ireland in jeopardy, place needless and crippling extra strain on services and markets, further deepen the already damaging divisions of Brexit, appal our good European neighbours and do massive lasting damage to the country’s standing in the world. » | Editorial | Sunday, August 4, 2019

How Much of a Threat Is Brexit to the Unity of the UK? | Inside Story

Boris Johnson has been touring the Union as a 'No-deal Brexit’ looms, trying to reassure those worried about the divorce with the EU.

Boris Johnson started the tour in Edinburgh. He was met with jeers and boos from protesters, which forced him to leave by the back door of Bute House, the official residence of Scotland's First Minister. Inside, his host Nicola Sturgeon expressed her discontent with Johnson's Brexit plans. She spoke about a 'catastrophic, almost inevitable path to a ‘No-deal Brexit'.

Then it was on to Wales, where Johnson was seeking support for his Brexit plans from the country's agricultural sector. The Welsh farmers' union has warned him leaving the EU without a deal would cause 'civil unrest' in rural areas. Many British farmers rely heavily on trade with Europe, and a no-deal scenario could be costly for their business.

In Northern Ireland, his last stop, Boris Johnson didn't receive the warmest welcome either. There's broad consensus that leaving the EU without a deal could be dramatic, because of the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which will become a border into Europe.

If no deal happens, the Sinn Féin party says the government must call a referendum on Irish Unity immediately. However, Northern Ireland has been without a sitting government since 2017. So has Boris Johnson convinced the skeptics, or is the Kingdom fracturing even further?

Presenter: Kamal Santamaria | Guests: Alan Wager, research associate with "The UK in a Changing Europe" initiative at King's College London; Jonathan Lis, Deputy Director of "British Influence", a pro-European think tank; Alasdair Soussi, writer on Scottish political affairs

Boris Johnson’s Threat of a No-deal Brexit Will Not Break EU Unity

THE GUARDIAN: The UK government should look instead to changing – but not discarding – the backstop

No matter what Boris Johnson or his new Vote Leave cabinet threaten – and the expectation in Brussels is that no-deal planning will be ramped up in an attempt to intimidate other EU countries – be in no doubt: there isn’t time to limit the damage of a sudden severance from the world’s largest trading block this Halloween.

Unless a further extension is requested, or article 50 is revoked by 31 October, when the current extension of UK membership expires, a dramatic shock awaits the global economy and we all stand to lose. The few who may prosper are the wealthy bankers and hedge fund managers who have bet on chaos.

It is fiction to talk of rewards for citizens or mini-deals to mitigate the damage. Faced with a British government intent on ratcheting up talk of no deal, other European governments have no choice but to prepare for the worst, too – but this is far from a desirable path. In the face of such irresponsible posturing, far from feeling threatened, I fully expect EU governments to remain calm and keep their unity. Attempts to put pressure on Ireland will only be met with waves of solidarity from the rest of the EU. » | Guy Verhofstadt* | Wednesday, July 31, 2019

* Guy Verhofstadt is Brexit coordinator for the European parliament

Could a No-deal Brexit Push Wales towards Independence?

Boris Johnson may have given himself a new title of Minister for the Union, but how United is the Kingdom?

In Wales, where he was today, the Tories are out in front in the latest opinion poll. But many in the Welsh independence movement see his premiership as the perfect gift for their campaign.

A no-deal Brexit puts new pressures on Scotland and Northern Ireland, could it change the game in Wales too? Just this weekend thousands gathered to march for independence, so how indy-curious is Wales?